The nature of large-scale turbulence in the Jovian atmosphere

THE NATURE OF LARGE-SCALE TURBULENCE IN THE JOVIAN ATMOSPHERE 00 The energetics and spectral characteristics of quasi-geostrophic turbulence in Jupiter's atmosphere are examined using sequences of Voyager images and infrared temperature soundings. Using global wind measurements we quantify momentum transports associated with zonally symmetric stresses and turbulent stresses. Though a strong up-gradient flux of momentum by eddies is observed, measurements do not preclude the possibility that symmetric stresses play a critical role in maintaining the mean zonal circulation. Strong correlation between the observed meridional distribution of eddy-scale kinetic energy and available potential energy suggests coupling between the observed cloudtop turbulent motions and the upper tropospheric thermodynamics. We formulate an Oort energy budget for Jupiter's upper troposphere. Fourier analyses of turbulent motions within zonal jets suggest that large-scale Jovian turbulence obeys a k -5/3 power law, where k is the zonal wavenumber. This implies that the observed turbulence is two-dimensional with an up-gradient flow of kinetic energy fro g smaller scales (e.g., baroclinic scales). Turbulent kinetic energy generally peaks at the scale for which Rossby wave propagation begins as suggested by Rhines (1975).

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